Comment by frankcaron | Hacker News Reader

Comment by frankcaron | Hacker News Reader

While this is great in theory, it's likely not going to lead to anything other than one marquee Toronto Star story about the foreign entrepreneur who found success in Canada.

Canadian VCs are far too risk averse and conservative; that's why the uptick of start-ups in all areas of the country, even Toronto's own would-be "Valley" of Liberty Village and the Junction, hasn't fielded much in the ways of success.

Until Toronto VCs start taking more risks and going down the road of helping people experiment (much like YComb itself), I don't see this doing much other than acting as a talking point for why Canada is a good place to live.

(I say this as a Torontonian who has worked almost exclusively for start-ups in the GTA and is now moving to San Fran to work for another one).

You know they could have not introduced a startup-visa, because they thought they have too little VC.

Instead they said, damn we really want young entrepreneurs to succeed and start a change. We don't have much VC money, but let's freaking execute by introducing a startup visa and that way state an example for the U.S. to follow.

The government of Canada isn't doing this to set an example for the United States to follow. They're doing this because they want to grow the Canadian economy.

In fact, they'd be quite happy if the United States doesn't follow their example, because that will help Canada compete. See, for instance, this billboard in Silicon Valley:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/department/media/photos/2013/20...

The U.S. doesn't need any examples to follow since the machine seems to be running quite well. If anything Canada needs to set itself apart because we're losing too many entrepreneurs to the pretty neighbour below us.

> much like YComb itself

AFAIK, YC doesn't invest anywhere close to $200k; so it's probably not fair to compare.

I was referring to the fact that there aren't as many (or even a handful of significantly noteworthy) incubators in the GTA / Canada at large.

This is what I have come realize....you can't legislate culture.

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